After an investigation by Eyewitness News on New Orleans Affordable Homeownership program -- NOAH -- Mayor Nagin held a press conference in response, calling the story “biased and inaccurate” and saying that the story is hurting the recovery effort. 

On Tuesday, one by one, the Nagin administration discounted a 4 Investigates report from the previous night that highlighted properties NOAH had claimed to remediate more than a year after Hurricane Katrina. The investigation which aired Monday evening used three separate sets of documents obtained in records requests from NOAH that showed properties that didn't appear to qualify for the program.  Instead of belonging to elderly or low income homeowners, some of the properties didn't exist, didn't qualify or homeowners say they didn't have any work done by the city agency.

“It appears the reporter used an intake -- an old intake list -- that had every property that had ever been claimed, or somebody thought that needed to have gutted,” Nagin said at the press conference.

But one list obtained by Eyewitness News on Monday shows dollar amounts next to all but a handful of properties, financial figures at that time NOAH said they spent on each individual home. At the press conference, Nagin said that list is not accurate.

“How do you explain that those were on three previous lists -- including ones with the amount each one cost -- and all of the sudden they are not on one list?” the mayor was asked, replying, “All I can tell you is that we have the list that counts.”

 Last week, Eyewitness News requests for an interview with the executive director of NOAH we were denied.

Eyewitness News also requested an interview with the Nagin administration with someone with knowledge on the program.  On Sunday night, the mayor's office requested a list from Eyewitness News of the properties that were being investigated.  The mayor’s office was provided with the information. 

Monday morning, the mayor’s office contacted Eyewitness News, saying that Recovery Director Ed Blakely would be available for an interview. But Blakely said he had little knowledge of the program. 

Well after the deadline for the story on Monday evening, which city officials were aware of, the mayor’s office sent Eyewitness News a new list that they say was provided to them by NOAH.

The new list does not include the cost of work for each property, but still on that list are two vacant properties that have home remediation signs from the city visible. The owners of those properties say NOAH, or any city-hired contractor, never did any remediation work.

“How do you respond to at least two homes -- one on Law Street – where there is a sign for Mayor Nagin's Home Remediation Program on it and when we contacted the homeowner they said no work had been done?” the mayor was asked.

“I don’t know. I have my campaign signs still out there,” the mayor responded.

Nagin says the city did not misspend any federal funds and the NOAH Home Remediation Program was legitimate.

“How are you helping this recovery? How is that report helping the recovery? It is not,” the mayor said. “It is hurting the city, and you need to stop it.”

Eyewitness News has learned that the NOAH property issue will be a big part of Wednesday's recovery meeting with members of City Council.